Trace minerals are essential, especially for beef cattle in challenging conditions such as the transition into the feedlot. Selko IntelliOpt Cr is a convenient blend of Selko IntelliBond hydroxy trace minerals and Optimin organic trace minerals sources with an excellent bioavailability in beef cattle. Moving from sulfate trace mineral sources to Selko IntelliOpt Cr increases stability of vitamins and minerals in the feed, and improves palatability and rumen function, resulting in an improvement of fibre digestibility and performance of beef cattle

Chromium propionate plays a crucial role in lipid,carbohydrate and protein metabolism of beef cattle[1]. Chromium acts as a cofactor for insulin and improves insulin sensitivity[2], which improves uptake of glucose by body cells, thus promoting energy utilization and feed efficiency of beef cattle.

Selenium is an essential trace element for beef, playing an important role in health and performance. However, since the selenium content of grain and forages is often very low, supplementation of beef cattle with additional selenium is required. The organic form of selenium in Selko IntelliOpt Cr guarantees optimal bioavailability, supporting storage as well as protection of vital metabolic functions. Beef cattle fed Selko IntelliOpt Cr therefore have an elevated antioxidant status, supporting the animal during challenging situations.

The importance of feed efficiency in beef cattle operations

Feed efficiency is the most important performance indicator for a beef operation. Increasing feed efficiency of beef cattle will increase income over feed costs while reducing the carbon footprint per kilogram of meat produced. Improving feed efficiency and average daily gain of beef cattle should therefore have a high priority for beef farmers. The sulphate salts commonly used in feed are highly soluble in the rumen, resulting in high peak concentrations of free metal ions[3]. Sulphate trace minerals are known to have antimicrobial effects, which has a negative impact on rumen function.

Trace mineral sources in Selko IntelliOpt Cr are largely insoluble at a pH of 4 or higher. The rumen pH of beef cattle is typically between 6 and 6.5, so hydroxy trace mineral crystals in Selko IntelliOpt Cr are essentially insoluble within the rumen. The pH in the abomasum is usually below 3. The hydroxy trace mienral crystals now become soluble and they dissociate layer by layer, resulting in a gradual release of trace metal ions into the duodenum. This gradual release patern results in an excellent bio-availability. At the same time, peak rumen concentrations always remain low. This is why Selko IntelliOpt Cr does not have a negative impact on rumen function of beef cattle . Feeding Selko IntelliOpt Cr therefore improves fibre digestibility and increases te production of volatile fatty acids in the rumen of beef cattle.

Several studies have shown that NDF digestibility improves[3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12] and volatile fatty acid poduction increases[3] if the hydroxy trace mineral sources in Selko IntelliOpt are fed to beef cattle (see figure 2 and figure 3).

Several studies in beef cattle have shown performance and health-augmenting effects of supplementing feedlot cattle diets with chromium. In stressed feeder calves, dietary chromium supplementation has been shown to reduce morbidity and increase weight gains while improving feed efficiency[13]. Performance benefits of supplementing beef cattle with chromium are often magnified during periods of cattle production stress resulting from transportation and feedlot acclimation, environmental factors, and ration transitions. In beef cattle, these stress periods are often associated with health consequences such as bovine respiratory disease or shipping fever.

During stress periods of beef cattle, glucose metabolism increases simultaneously with increased secretion of cortisol into blood13]. Cortisol acts antagonistically to insulin because it prevents entry of glucose into peripheral tissues (muscle and fat) to spare it for tissues of higher demand (brain and liver)14]. Chromium supplementation of beef cattle has been shown to be effective in diminishing the adverse effects of stress by reducing cortisol levels[15]. This reduction in cortisol levels tends to improve immunity, frequently resulting in enhanced growth performance of beef cattle.[16].

Trial 1, effect of chromium supplementation on beef cattle health The effect of feeding beef cattle the chromium propionate source in Selko IntelliOpt Cr at 0.3 mg/kg on the percentage of disease treatments in feedlot cattle was tested[17,18]. Feeding chromium to beef cattle resulted in a significant reduction of disease treatments (see figure 4).

Trial 2a and 2b, effect of chromium supplementation on mortalkity of receiving beef cattle in feedlots Two studies were carried out to test the effect of feeding chromium propionate in Selko IntelliOpt Cr at 0.3 mg/kg on mortality of receiving beef cattle in feedlots[17,18]. Feeding chromium to receiving beef cattle resulted in a significant reduction of mortality (see figure 5).

Trial 3, effect of chromium supplementation on growth, feed efficiency and health Feeding the chromium propionate source in Selko IntelliOpt Cr was tested in trial in steers at a dose level of 0.3 mg/kg[16]. Feeding chromium resulted in an increase of growth, average daily gain, dry matter intake and feed conversion, and a reduction of disease treatments (see Figure 6).

Figure 6, effect of supplementation with the chromium source in Selko IntelliOpt Cr on growth, feed conversion and disease treatments of steers.

Trial 4, effect of feeding the hydroxy trace minerals in Selko IntelliOpt Cr combined with chromium

In a trial carried out by the Colorado State University, one group of steers was fed hydroxy Zn, Cu and Mn sources and the chromium source in Selko IntelliOpt Cr, the control group was fed equivalent amounts of Cu, Zn and Mn sulfate without Cr. Results are presented in Figure 7.

Figure 7, effect of feeding the copper, zinc, manganese and chromium sources in Selko IntelliOpt Cr on growth, dry matter intake and feed efficiency of steers.

Feed efficiency is an important driver of farm profitability. Feeding Selko IntelliOpt Cr improves digestibility of fibre in the diet, resulting in an improvement of feed efficiency, average daily gain, health and performance of beef cattle. Moving to Selko IntelliOpt Cr will make your beef operations more efficient, resulting in an excellent return on investment, in combin ation with a reduction of the carbon footprint per kg of meat produced.

1. Malik, M.I, Jonker, A, Raboisson, D, Song, B, Rashid, M.A. and X. Sun (2024). Effects of dietary chromium supplementation on blood biochemical parameters in dairy cows: A multilevel meta-analytical approach. J. Dairy Sci. 107: 301-316.
2. Leiva, T, Cooke, R.F, Aboin, A.C, Drago,F.L, Gennari, R. and J. L. M. Vasconcelos (2014). Effects of excessive energy intake and supplementation with chromium propionate on insulin resistance parameters in nonlactating dairy cows. J. Anim. Sci. 2014.92:775–782.
3. Caldera, C.E, Weigel, B, Kucharczyk, V.N, Sellins, K.S, Archibeque, S.L, Wagner, J.J, Han, H, Spears, J.B. and T.E. Engle (2019). Trace mineral source influences ruminal distribution of copper and zinc and their binding strength to ruminal digesta. J. Anim. Sci., 97:1852-1864.
4. Faulkner, M.J. and W.P. Weiss (2017). Effect of source of trace minerals in either forage- or by-product-based diets fed to dairy cows: 1. Production and macronutrient digestibility, Journal of Dairy Science 100:5358-53-67.
5. Miller, M.D, Lanier, J.S, Kvidera, S.K, Dann, H.M, Ballard, C.S. and R.J. Grant (2020). Evaluation of source of corn silage and trace minerals on lactational performance and total-tract nutrient digestibility in Holstein cows. J. Dairy Sci., 103:3147-3160.
6. Guimaraes, O, Jalali, S, Wagner, T, Spears, J and T. Engle (2019). The influence of trace mineral source on fiber digestion, rumen fermentation characteristics, and mineral solubility in beef cattle fed a low-quality forage diet. J. An. Science. 97, Issue Supp. 3: 167.
7. Guimaraes, O, Wagner, T, Spears, J and T. Engle (2020). Influence of trace mineral source on digestion, ruminal volatile fatty acid and soluble mineral on steers fed a dairy type diet balanced to meet requirements for a high producing lactating dairy cow. J. An. Science. 98, Issue Supp. 3: 133–134.
8. Caldera, C.E, Weigel, B, Kucharczyk, V.N, Sellins, K.S, Archibeque, S.L, Wagner, J.J, Han, H, Spears, J.B. and T.E. Engle (2019). Trace mineral source influences ruminal distribution of copper and zinc and their binding strength to ruminal digesta. J. Anim. Sci., 97:1852-1864.
9. Genther, O.N. and S.L. Hansen (2015). The effect of trace mineral source and concentration on ruminal digestion and mineral solubility. J. Dairy Sci., 98: 566-573.
10. Van Kuijk, S, Swiegers, P and Y. Han (2022), Hydroxychloride trace minerals improve apparent total tract nutrient digestibility in Bonsmara beef cattle. Livestock Science: 256(4):104820.
11. Yasui, T, Ryan, C.M, Gilbert, R.O, Perryman, K.R. and T. R. Overton (2014). Effects of hydroxy trace minerals on oxidative metabolism, cytological endometritis, and performance of transition dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 97: 3728-3738.
12. Daniel, J.B, Kvidera, S.K. and J. Martín-Tereso (2020). Total-tract digestibility and milk productivity of dairy cows as affected by trace mineral sources. J. Dairy Sci. 103 (10).
13. Burton, J.L. 1995. Supplemental chromium: its benefits to the bovine immune system. Anim. Feed Sci. and Tech. 53:117-133.
14. Borgs, P. and B.A. Mallard. 1998. Immune-endocrine interactions in agricultural species: chromium and its effect on health and performance. Domest. Anim. Endocrinol. 15(5):431-438.
15. Mowat, D.N., X. Chang and W.Z. Yang. 1993. Chelated chromium for stressed feeder calves. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 73:49.
16. Bernhard, B.C., Burdick, N.C., Rounds, W., Rathmann, R.J., Carroll, J.A., Finck, D.N., Jennings, M.A., Young, T.R. and B.J. Johnson. (2012). Chromium supplementation alters the performance and health of feedlot cattle during the receiving period and enhances their metabolic response to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. J. Anim. Sci. 90:3879-3888.
17. Bernhard, B. C., W. Rounds, R.J. Rathmann, and B.J.Johnson. Effects of chromium supplementation on feedlot performance and health during the receiving period of stressed beef cattle. National Animal Science Meetings, New Orleans, July 2011. WP-11-00013
18. Rounds, W.R., M. Brown, and F. Valdez. 2011. The effect of chromium propionate supplementation on health and performance of stressed steer calves during receiving and finishing. WP-11-00045.